خصوصية الهوية السعودية في الأدب السعودي المترجم

Abstract EN

This study examines how Saudi cultural identity has been represented in some translated Saudi novels, which motivated the reading of these novels in the Western context.

First, the study briefly traces the history of Arabic literature in the Western literary scene and its translation into English (the dominant global language), explaining how a particular set of factors led to Saudi novels being selected for translation and thus entering the world literary space.

It then analyses a selection of newspaper and magazine articles and reviews that are aimed at a non-specialist audience, and reflect the way Saudi novels have been received and perceived by the general reading public.

Discussion of these examples indicates that the reading of the selected Saudi novels is heavily influenced by the fact that the opinions of these Anglophone readers has been shaped to a greater or lesser degree by the East/West dichotomy of Orientalism, simply repeating the familiar readings of Arab/Islamic culture in the dominant Western discourse.